Sox Trade For Adam LaRoche

12:46 p.m.: Strange, but LaRoche is still sitting in the Pirates' dugout during the game. Hard to tell if he has a uniform on because he is wearing a jacket over the jersey, but he is wearing a Pirates cap. Could be that the Pirates are awaiting paperwork to be completed.

This is an upgrade over Mark Kotsay. LHB LaRoche, 29, will most likely play first against against right-handers, with Youkilis moving to third base. Mike Lowell has a .903 OPS against lefties this season.

LaRoche has also been a much better hitter in the second half. The past three seasons, post-July 1 (grabbed from SoSH):

good enough to start against right-handers for a team not in contention, but he's a reserve on any team really trying to win. ...

His defense at first is below average, so the overall package is worth about +1 to +2 wins per season. He's not a terrible player - just a bit below average. He's also the kind of player you should never pay serious money to, which is why the Pirates had to be thrilled to dump the rest of the $7 million he was owed for 2009. ...

LaRoche gives them the ability to not have a hole at first base, and that has value. Is it worth $3 million? If you're the Red Sox, apparently it is.

22 comments:

I think this is a good trade. It gives us a nice rotation for 1st/3rd/DH with two righties and two lefties. Word is it's Argenis Diaz and Hunter Strickland, the former being a good glove no hit shortstop, the latter is a starter who seems like a fringe prospect with a little bit of upside; I don't know much about him.

Decent pickup, I guess. Don't know enough about him to pass judgment yet. But if he keeps up his 2nd half numbers, good.

I dunno about losing faith in Lowell yet, he was hurt earlier in the year and just got that injection or whatever and is easing back into it. I like the depth but I think the guy still might have some pop left in him.

Yeah, it seems like the Pirates really gave up on their all-LaRoche infield pretty quickly.

By the way, the Pirates are loaded with tweener prospects. It seems like not a week goes by where the Pirates don't trade for a C-level guy who's really fast with a great glove but can't hit, a big, strike-throwing righty without a fastball, or a contact hitting no-power guy who can't field. 5 years from now they're going to be absolutely stocked with barely adequate bench guys.

This may mean that Lowell is hurting more than we have understood. LaRoche brings substantial power to a lineup which has been punchless for a month, but only if he plays, of course. And with Papi around (both are lefties) the only place for him to play is first.

He was a better fielder when he first came up than he is now, according the Mets fans I know, but the main purpose in adding him is to score some bleeping runs. If the reports that he is still in a Pirate uniform are true, I would very much like to see him leave the Pittsburgh dugout and get on a plane to Arlington, but my guess is that we won't see him until Friday.

No cash going to Pittsburgh for good reason for crying out loud. The Red Sox have to pay the guy about $3 million for a half-season rental. Still, it should improve us against righties and gives us Lowell insurance. They haven't made a "corresponding move" yet because they don't have to until LaRoche shows up to play. I wonder whether it will be Baldelli. Terry like the flexibility that Kotsay gives him and, of course, Green and Kottaras need to be around since there is no other back up.

The Sox could also do with one fewer pitcher, but we know Terry likes 12 and they have won that way, so I don't imagine they will go that direction, unless it was for a very short time (Masterson?)

"been in a market for a player who can do some damage against righthanded pitching and can help our team's depth in the corner infield"

Had discussions with Pirates about LaRoche for months

trade was "not in the least bit a reaction" to recent woes

LaRoche will join the Red Sox in Boston on Friday

"I think we're a good offensive club having a horrific month. ... We have the potential to be really, really good. But we're not the most prolific offensive club in recent Red Sox history. We certainly have the ability to score enough runs to get where we want to go."

I like this move. It seems like a classic Epstein "buy low" gamble. Doubtful that LaRoche becomes a starter absent injuries but frankly I am sick of Kotsay and he is a definite upgrade over him as a bat off the bench and fill in player.